One Last Year

I enjoyed the bus journey looking out of the window, until I crossed the bridge and saw the huge sign that flashed Welcome to Singapore. My heart sank with a sense of impending doom, and I wished for a moment it would sink into the depths of the Tebrau Strait and take with it all the misery.
Right. That was horrible descriptive writing.

I called my parents in Alor Star and my uncle in KL to tell them I arrived safely. And then I texted Emile. The poor girl spent Christmas in Singapore carolling with NJ choir. Haha.

Hearing from your friends somehow lifts your spirits. She told me the hostel was a mad house at the moment, with everyone moving in, moving out, changing rooms. I actually smiled.

This is my life, I thought. The good hostel life. Where we wake up each morning and trudge up the slope to school. Where we queue up for dinner in the dining hall, clad in oversized tees and slippers, clutching brown meal trays, debating whether to take meal A or meal B. Where we kick ourselves everytime we forget to send laundry on laundry days. Where I try hard to shut out the noise when I’m studying and sleeping.

This is one last year of grey uniforms (and moods) and bright red PE shorts. Maybe, maybe, I’ll savour it a little bit more than I did last year. 

And before I forget, my change of address:
Jasmine Yow
B5L/01B
Hwa Chong Boarding School
673 Bukit Timah Road,
269735 Singapore.

Due to certain complications I’m still stuck in a 4 bedder room. Shucks.

The Greatest Story

I had an amazing experience in Korea and I want to tell you about it. I’m still savouring every memory, still thinking of the friends I made, nursing terribly sore feet and a sunburnt and windburnt face, and still aching to go back there.

But you know what, caught up in the thrills of camping in the snow, I have nearly forgotten that no matter how exciting my winter adventure was, it is not an important story. There remains a far greater story that is much more worth telling.

So this Christmas, before I write anything else, I am going to quieten down and be awed by the God’s great story. It is an honour to tell that story first.

I celebrate Christmas because I have a great God who came to die for me and save me from my sin. I celebrate the richness of His love and thank Him for this life He has given me. I celebrate my family and friends who add so much joy to my life.

This year, Christmas is meaningful because Ee hosted a party for those who are away from home so that they would have a place to celebrate. Everyone shared their thoughts about Christmas and a bit of their lives and I was reminded again that life is really not about myself. It is about giving and serving people.

Today jiu jiu shared from Isaiah 9:6. It says to us a child is born, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What powerful names these are! Do you know God can give you counsel in your most complex problem? Do you know He is a worker of miracles and provider of needs? Do you know he can rule in your heart  and give you peace that surpasses all understanding amidst the valleys of life? And do you know, if you never had a relationship with your father, God can heal your heart and be that father to you.

There are a lot of things that confuse me in life…I am still trying to discover who I am and learn to enjoy being that person, wondering about friendship and attractions, and deciding which things matter. But I know I have a great God who sees me through all seasons of life. And I am comforted.

Have a good Christmas everyone. I hope it is as meaningful for you as it is for me.

Schedule

12.12.06-22.12.06: Korea

24.12.06-28.12.06: KL

28.12.06 onwards: Muggers’ Land of Singapore

p/s: Thank you to everyone in Alor Star who gave me such a lovely time. Was nice to see all of you. And to mum and dad who saw to my every need, I love you!

p/p/s: You people studying or holidaying in KL, sms or call me when I’m there okay!